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driver downgrade prevention
About this tag
Driver downgrade prevention refers to Microsoft's planned changes to Windows Update driver targeting, starting with GPU drivers. A new Hardware ID plus Computer Hardware ID model, rolling out from 2026, aims to stop Windows Update from replacing a newer user-installed graphics driver with an older but higher-ranked package. This addresses a common frustration where game-ready NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel drivers revert after an update scan. The fix focuses on driver-publishing plumbing to ensure newer drivers are not downgraded automatically.
Microsoft has confirmed a Windows driver-publishing change that will let new graphics drivers use a simpler Hardware ID plus Computer Hardware ID targeting model, with rollout work beginning in 2026 and broader enforcement expected from late 2026 into early 2027. The practical promise is...